Apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies and corresponding method

A method for the automated production of glass assemblies of glass electrodes, wherein each glass assembly includes an outer tube and an inner tube extending inside the outer tube, wherein the inner tube and the outer tube are arranged coaxially, and wherein one end of the inner tube is fixedly bonded to a tube wall of the outer tube, the method comprising:

• assembling a glass body comprising an outer tube and two inner tubes within a turning machine, which includes at least two spindles, which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and which each have a workpiece holder,
• wherein the workpiece holders are arranged opposite one another, and
• wherein each inner tube is oriented and arranged end to end coaxially with the axis of rotation within the outer tube;
• fixedly bonding each inner tube to the outer tube at an end adjacent the respective other inner tube by heating the end adjacent the respective other inner tube via the outer tube while rotating the at least two spindles so as to uniformly heat the outer tube and said adjacent ends of the two inner tubes,
• wherein an annular chamber is thereby formed between each inner tube and the outer tube;
• and
• selectively applying a positive and/or negative pressure in each inner tube and/or each annular chamber via a pressure module during the bonding of each inner tube to the outer tube,
• wherein the method is performed automatically using a control unit configured to control:
• operation of drives powering the at least two spindles;
• heating of each adjacent inner tube end via the outer tube;
• and
• the pressure in each inner tube and/or each annular chamber via the pressure module, wherein the pressure module includes at least one working cylinder and is configured to generate both the positive pressure and the negative pressure in each inner tube and each annular chamber.